Local home based care centres to regularly receive fresh vegetables as part of Setsokotsane Programme
Bogosi Foundation Home Based Care in Molelwane village, Disaneng Home Based Care and Mmangwana Day-Care and feeding scheme from Ramatlabama village will from today receive bags of fresh vegetables once a week from the Department of Rural, Environment and Agricultural Development’s Kgora Farmer Training Centre. This was confirmed by Premier Supra Mahumapelo who started the vegetable donation initiative today, Wednesday 22nd October, as part of the recently launched Setsokotsane Programme.
Joined by MECs for Departments of Rural, Environment and Rural Development, Health, Social Development, Tourism, Speaker of the Provincial Legislature and Kgosi Shole Shole of Ramatlabama, Premier Mahumapelo got down at the centre’s food security garden to harvest vegetables before handing them over to the beneficiaries.
One of the beneficiaries, Ms Jacqueline Modieginyana who is managing Mmangwana Day-Care and feeding scheme said the commitment by the Provincial Government in the fight against hunger will go a long way in addressing food insecurity among rural families, saying the integrated Setsokotsane Programme which seeks to address amongst others poverty, is highly praised and supported.
“We will once every week collect bags of vegetables such as spinach, cabbage, onions, carrots and others, and this will improve the quality of health of the children and families we are looking after”, said Ms Modieginyana.
Impressed by the food security project’s ability to produce fresh and quality vegetables, Premier Mahumapelo challenged the Department of Rural, Environment and Rural Development which is managing Kgora Farmer Training Centre to look at the possibility of establishing satellite centres, this in an attempt to bring the centre’s food security inclined services closer to most people of the Province.
“As we have placed agriculture at the apex of our Province’s economic growth”, said Premier Mahumapelo, “we further challenge the Department to seriously consider establishing a laboratory that will be equipped enough to test the quality of our agricultural produce, this as we endeavour to be the best in as far as certain agricultural products are concerned”.
Mahumapelo encouraged local communities, especially the youth, to take advantage of the training services offered at Kgora Farmer Training Centre, saying there is a need to address skills shortage amongst farmers, for them to be future entrepreneurs and reliable food producers.
The centre is situated in Ramatlabama and is responsible for the development and maintenance of responsive skills, improve capacity resource through tailor- made and adaptive training, as well as empowerment interventions for farmers and prospective farmers alike. Training at this centre takes various forms that range from excursions, demonstrations, refresher courses, up to credit bearing unit standards to address knowledge and skills gaps on arable farming and livestock husbandry as well as on organisational, marketing and financial management.
Premier Mahumapelo had during the launch of Setsokotsane Programme last week, explained it as an action-oriented initiative that seeks to speedily address service delivery challenges experienced by communities, which include poverty and joblessness.
Enquiries:
Bonolo Mohlakoana (Ms)
Acting Provincial Head of Communication
Tel: 018 388 4390
Cell: 082 901 2435
E-mail: Bmohlakoana@nwpg.gov.za
